Resigning after 3 months

ladedah1, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2016

I am sorry that you are dissatisfied with your career. It takes a lot of time, work, and commitment to land a career in our profession, so it must certainly have been a hard decision to make. I do implore you, though, to give it a little while before deciding it is not for you (it often takes more than three months to really feel comfortable) or continue searching for other positions prior to giving up altogetherâ€¦ there are many wonderful places to work, you just have to find the right fit.

If you do feel â€“ no matter the environment â€“ that nursing is not for you, I would definitely recommend giving them as much notice as possible. Think about itâ€¦ if you were on orientation for two months, that's about how long it will take them to orient your replacement. Likewise, the hiring procedure often takes a minimum of one monthâ€¦ so the total time to find and train your replacement will likely be a MINIMUM of three monthsâ€¦ the standard two weeks really doesn't work well for our industry.

Obviously, how much time you give them is up to you. You must balance your options carefully, so that you are respectful â€“ but also not left out in the cold yourself.

Wishing you the best of luck in whatever you choose!

purplegal · Mar 30, 2016

Be careful about leaving too soon. You've only been off orientation for a month, so it makes sense that you are under stress, maybe even more so than when you were on orientation. After all, now you are on your own and do not have your preceptor to back up your decisions. You also say that your manager and coworkers enjoy working with you and think you are doing well. That really says a lot. As someone who not too long ago left an unsuccessful orientation, I would have given anything to hear those words.

At the same time, if you really feel the stress is too much for you, maybe try another nursing job. The fact that you have worked for a couple of years as a nurse and made it through orientation for an acute care job seems to suggest that you do have what it takes to be a nurse and belong in the profession. Think carefully before you give up all that you have been through and accomplished. It was not easy to earn your degree or to get your license.

I'm not saying that you should continue with a job, or even a career, that you don't feel is right for you. Just saying that you should really take more time to make the decision. A month long of stress may be only due to the fact that you have more decision making and responsibility upon you, and will probably go away, or greatly lessen, once you have your own routine down. You have other team members that are viewing you favorably, so consider that they feel that you are a good fit. You are right, the hospital has invested time and money in you, and views you as a great asset. Give it more than a month before making any decision to leave.

RNdynamic · Mar 30, 2016

If your decide to resign, 2 weeks is acceptable in nursing.

dishes, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2016

Only you can know if the stress is unbearable for you. My second nursing job was my worst, like you I dreaded going to work, I ended up feeling burnt out within a year. I stayed the year, for professional reasons (because it looked better on my resume), but from a personal health point of view it was unhealthy. When I first quit that job, I too did not want to work as a nurse anymore, but it turned out I just needed to find the right fit for me.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2016

Hi Sarah...

If you can possibly, please stick it out until, at the very least, you have another job.

I know it's tough. I've been in your shoes.

Do you have any friends in the same boat, or maybe a mentor type in your department (a favorite charge nurse or preceptor?)

Also, that is a HECK of a long probation period.

jena5111, ASN, RN · Mar 30, 2016

Hello,
I recently got hired at a new job in December and got off orientation about a month ago.
However, I really do not feel like nursing is the right career for me and thinking about quitting nursing altogether. I've been a nurse for about two years now.
When I was working at LTC i thought things will get better if I go into an acute care. but i still dread going to work every morning and it's actually worse now. My new manager and coworkers have told me that I am doing really well and they like me there.
The stress is getting worse everyday and unbearable for me at this moment so I've decided to go back to school and study something else. I feel terrible for leaving a job after only a few months when the hospital has invested so much in me.
My question is, how should i let my manager know that i am leaving? I am still in my probation period which will not end until July. How many weeks of notice should I give my manager?

OP, can you possibly stick it out until the end of your (really long) probationary period in July? I bet you'll feel at least a little better about things at that point. Especially since you're getting positive feedback already.

If not, then give 2-4 weeks notice.

As a new RN grad (Dec 2015 grad working in acute care since Jan 16, off orientation for a couple weeks) I can say that acute care is HARD. It just is. But I can tell that I've gotten stronger since starting my new job, and I bet you have too. Maybe give it a bit more time to get over the bumpiest part?

Good luck!

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 30, 2016

Hello,
I recently got hired at a new job in December and got off orientation about a month ago.
However, I really do not feel like nursing is the right career for me and thinking about quitting nursing altogether. I've been a nurse for about two years now.
When I was working at LTC i thought things will get better if I go into an acute care. but i still dread going to work every morning and it's actually worse now. My new manager and coworkers have told me that I am doing really well and they like me there.
The stress is getting worse everyday and unbearable for me at this moment so I've decided to go back to school and study something else. I feel terrible for leaving a job after only a few months when the hospital has invested so much in me.
My question is, how should i let my manager know that i am leaving? I am still in my probation period which will not end until July. How many weeks of notice should I give my manager?

You got off orientation, one month ago. Way too soon to call it quits. Your manager and coworkers validate your skills.

Nursing is stressful... go with the flow. You can do this.

My first job was a burger flipper. It sucked . I hung in there. I am now an excellent nurse and burger flipper.

KenH · Mar 30, 2016

Do not give up, If Your manager and co-workers believe in and like you that is 75% of the battle. Two jobs in two years you may not have transitioned from being a student to professional Nurse, it takes time. Give yourself a break you can do it.

Try to search out a mentor, some one you can talk to, share a good inappropriate laugh, heartbreak,and the joy of success.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2016

If your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program, reach out to them. It is confidential, you can speak to a qualified counselor, and usually the first few visits are no charge. Your manager and co-workers see something in you that you don't. I don't think you given your self enough time.

nutella, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2016

Hello,
I recently got hired at a new job in December and got off orientation about a month ago.
However, I really do not feel like nursing is the right career for me and thinking about quitting nursing altogether. I've been a nurse for about two years now.
When I was working at LTC i thought things will get better if I go into an acute care. but i still dread going to work every morning and it's actually worse now. My new manager and coworkers have told me that I am doing really well and they like me there.
The stress is getting worse everyday and unbearable for me at this moment so I've decided to go back to school and study something else. I feel terrible for leaving a job after only a few months when the hospital has invested so much in me.
My question is, how should i let my manager know that i am leaving? I am still in my probation period which will not end until July. How many weeks of notice should I give my manager?

Like other have said - quitting too early can cause other problems.

If your stress is partially related to other problems like anxiety/depression and such it would be good to get that addressed with the help of a mental health professional. I know that for nurses who had this constellation of anxiety/depression/overwhelm and who got that treated, did much better with their jobs.

Also, look at your paycheck and see if it motivates you in any way. There have been times I did not want to go to work but I would look at the paycheck and just make it through the week and things improved.

Adjusting to the flow in an acute hospital is not easy on regular floor, I think it takes a good year to feel comfortable. Consider how you would finance you next studies and if your career prospects would be ok. If you are able to stick it out for a year you will have 2 years of solid nursing experience and should be able to find something else that is perhaps a better fit.

heronurse · Mar 31, 2016

Were in the same boat, I'm 2 months in but I'm feeling burnt out. The difference is this is my first job, if you follow the site im the one who always ask for advice, how to resign. I think we all go to this phase. First month was worst, i always want to quit every after shift, anxiety is always off the roof, overthinking everytime, feeling stressed out even though you dont having nothing to be stressed. 2 months in, I still having the same feeling but it lessened. What I learned from this job is let the stress in and let it all out. There are bad days there are good days, we just have to find a way to pull it off